Apparatus for liquefying gases



July 3, 1934. .1. c. SWAN APPARATUS FOR LIQUEFYING GASES Filed July .25, 1933 ovoooo c javac @@@QQQGQ @@@QQQQ Patented Jlyo'3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFI-lcs 10 Claims.

The invention relates to the liquefying of gases and more particularly to apparatus wherein the liquidation of the gases may be accomplished economically and efficiently.

The apparatus is especially intended for liquefying natural gases of the paraffin or methane series, although it is well adapted for liquefying any kind of gas, except ammonia.

The object of the improvement is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus which will readily and economically liquefy gases which are passed through the same.

The above and other objects may be attained by providing an apparatus including a casing of sufficient strength to withstand the pressures to which the gases therein are subjected, a spaced inner shell being hermetically sealed within the casing, a refrigerant tube being concentrically mounted within said inner shell, there being a multiplicity of condensing tubes radially disposed around said refrigerant tube, the open ends thereof extending through the inner shell and communicating with the condensing chamber formed between the inner shell and the outer casing, a multiplicity of small apertures being formed in the refrigerant tube above the condensing tubes so as to produce a spray of the refrigerant liquid upon the condensing tubes in order to rapidly liquefy the gas under pressure in said condensing tubes permitting the liquefied gas to drain into the condensing chamber from which it is withdrawn, an outlet vent being provided in the upper portion of the condenser chamber to permit the escape of non-condensable gases from time to time, the refrigerant being withdrawn from the interior of the inner shell and returned tothe suction side of the compressor.

An embodiment of the invention thus briefly described is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved apparatus for liquefying gases; and

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the same.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

The improved apparatus includes a receptacle or casing which may comprise the cylindric side Walls 10, bottom wall 11 and top wall 12, which is preferably of slightly concaved or conical form as illustrated in Figure 1.

The side walls 10 and bottom wall 11 may each comprise an outer steel shell 13 and a spaced inner copper shell 14 between which may be 1ocated a layer. of lead cast in place, as indicated at 15. The top wall may be formed of copper as (Cl. (i2- 122) shown at 16 with a covering of lead indicated at 17.

Spaced within the outer casing and preferably concentric therewith is an inner shell 18 preferably formed of copper, and hermetically sealed at its upper and lower ends to the top and bottom walls of the Outer casing respectively, thus forming the condensing chamber 19 between the inner shell and outer casing, and forming the refrigerant chamber 18a within said shell. 65

The refrigerant tube 20, which is also preferably formed of copper is concentrically located within the inner shell 18, the lower end thereof being closed as at 21 and sealed within a suitable opening 22 in the bottom wall 1l. The upper 70 end of the refrigerant tube is provided with a closure cap 23 having an inlet 24 therein to which is connected a pipe 25 leading from the pressure side of a compressor whereby the refrigerant liquid from the compressor is fed into the refrigerant tube 20.

A plurality of rows of radially disposed condensing tubes 26 are located around the refrigerant tube 20, the inner closed end portions thereof being welded together and to the tube 20, the open outer ends of said condensing tubes extending through suitable openings in the inner shell 18 as shown at 27 and being welded thereto, whereby all of the condensing tubes communicate with the condensing chamber 19. An air tight seal is formed in the shell 18 around the open end of each of the condensing tubes 26, so that there is no communication between the interior of the shell 18 and thefcondensing chamber 19.

The refrigerant tube 20 is provided with spaced rows of small apertures 28, one of these apertures being located just above each row of the condensing tubes so as to spray the refrigerant liquid from the tube 20 upon the condensing tubes.

The gas to be liquefied is charged from any suitable source of gas under sufficient pressure into the condensing chamber 19 through the inlet opening 29 formed in the top wall 16.

If desired, the gas may be supplied from the discharge end of an apparatus such as shown in my Patent No. 1,829,424, of October 27, 1931.

It should be understood that the gas to be liqueed is admitted to the condensing chamber 19 under sufficient pressure to liquefy the gas, depending upon the nature of the gas and the temperature at which the appartus is operated. For instance, in liquefying methane the gas maybe maintained at about 101 lbs. pressure or above, and at a temperature of 200 F. under which conditions the methane will be liquefied at a rate in accordance with the well known law 'of gases.

The following table gives the vapor pressure of methane at intervals of 10 F. from the normal boiling point, -258.'l F. to the critical temperature, 116 F.

Pressure iba/in.I gage Temp. F.

where, through the inlet opening 24 to the refrigerant tube 20 and sprayed through the apertures 28 upon the condensing tubes 26, lowering the temperature of the gas within said tubes suiilcientlyl to liquefy the gas at the pressure under which it is maintained.

As the gas is liquefied, it will drain from the tubes 26 into the lower portion of the condensing chamber from which it may be withdrawn through the outlet pipe 30 having the perforated lower end portion 3l, the liquefied gas being carried to any suitable storage place.

As additional gas under pressure may be continually charged into the condensing chamber through the inlet 29, the condensing tubes 26 may be continually filled with gas at sufficient pressure to liquefy under the temperature produced by the spraying of the refrigerant liquid upon said tubes, whereby the liquefying process may be substantially continuous.

As the refrigerant liquid vaporizes within the interior of the inner shell 18 it may be withdrawn through the outlet openings 32 to the suction side of the compressor where it is again compressed and returned to the refrigerant tube 20 under pressure.

As the average natural gas contains small amounts of nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, and sometimes traces of other gases which will not liquefy at the same temperatures and pressures as methane, an outlet vent 33 may be provided in the upper portion of the condensing chamber which may be opened from time to time, after the methane has condensed, in order to permit these foreign gases to escape from the condensing readily and economically liquefying gases, and the apparatus may be operated substantially continuously as long as refrigerant liquid and gas are supplied at the required temperature and pressure and the liquefied gas is withdrawnv at proper intervals.

When the gas supply is obtained from wells producing petroleum, the methane carries with it, in the form of minute droplets or vapor, some of the petroleum oil. This petroleum oil usually contains paramn in solution, and the oil and paraiiin together would eventually interfere with the proper transmission of heat through the tubes and walls of the inner chamber and fill the apertures 28 and tubes 26 so as to block the apparatus in its heat transmitting function. Therefore the gas for liquefaction must be purged of all solidifiable substances, such as paraffin, before being fed into the instant apparatus. This may be accomplished in an apparatus such as shown in my Patent No. 1,829,424, or the equivalent thereof.

'I'he apparatus, as constructed of copper, is suitablefor liquefying any -kind of gases except ammonia, but it /should be understood that ammonia gas may be liquefied in an apparatus such as illustrated, if built of suitable material to withstand the chemical action of the ammonia gas.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a casing having a condensing chamber for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure, and a refrigerant chamber located within the condensing chamber, a multiplicity of radially disposed condensing tubes within the refrigerant charnber and having open ends communicating with the condensing chamber, and means for spraying refrigerant liquid upon said condensing tubes.

2. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a casing having a condensing chamber for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure, and a refrigerant chamber located within the condensing chamber, a multiplicity of radially disposed condensing tubes within the refrigerant chamber and having open ends communicating with the condensing chamber, and a refrigerant liquid tube in the refrigerant chamber having a multiplicity of apertures therein for spraying refrigerant liquid upon said condensing tubes.

3. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a casing having a condensing chamber therein for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure, a refrigerant chamber centrally located within the condensing chamber, a refrigerant liquid pipe centrally located within the refrigerant chamber, and a multiplicity of radially disposed condensing tubes within the refrigerant chamber surrounding said refrigerant liquid tube and having open ends communicating with the condensing chamber, there being a multiplicity of apertures in the refrigerant liquid tube for spraying refrigerant liquid upon said condensing tubes.

4. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a casing having a condensing chamber therein for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure, a refrigerant chamber centrally located within the condensing chamber, a refrigerant liquid tube centrally located within the refrigerant chamber, and a plurality of spaced rows of radially disposed condensing tubes located within the refrigerant chamber and surrounding the refrigerant liquid tube and having open ends communicating with the condensing chamber, there being a. row of apertures in the refrigerant liquid tube adjacent to each row of condensing tubes for spraying refrigerant liquid upon the condensing tubes.

5. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a casing having a condensing chamber for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure, and a refrigerant chamber located within the condensing chamber, a multiplicity of radially disposed condensing tubes Within the refrigerant chamber and having open ends communicating with the condensing chamber, a refrigerant liquid tube in the refrigerant chamber having a multiplicity of apertures therein for spraying refrigerant liquid upon said condensing tubes, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to the refrigerant tube, and means for withdrawing the-refrigerant from the refrigerant chamber.

6. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a casing having a condensing chamber for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure, and a refrigerant chamber located within the condensing chamber, a multiplicity of radially disposed condensing tubes within the refrigerant chamber and having open ends communicating with the condensing chamber, a refrigerant liquid tube in the refrigerant chamber having a multiplicity of apertures therein for spraying refrigerant liquid upon said condensing tubes, and a tube for withdrawing liquefied gas extending to the lower portion of the condensing chamber and provided with apertures at its lower end.

'7. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a reenforced steel casing having a copper lining, a copper shell spaced within said casing and sealed to the upper and lower ends thereof forming a condensing chamber for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure between the shell and casing, a refrigerant liquid tube centrally located within the shell and forming a refrigerant chamber between said tube and shell, and a plurality of spaced rows of radially disposed tubes surrounding the refrigerant tube and having open outer ends extending through the shell into the condensing chamber, there being arow of apertures in the refrigerant liquid tube above each row of condensing tubes for spraying refrigerant liquid upon the condensing tubes.v

8. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a reenforced steel casing having a copper lining, a copper shell spaced within said casing and sealed to the upper and lower ends thereof forming a condensing chamber for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure between the shell and casing, a refrigerant liquid tube centrally located within the shell and forming a refrigerant chamber between said tube and shell, a plurality of spaced rows of radially disposed tubes surrounding the refrigerant tube and having open outer ends extending through the shell into the condensing chamber, there being a row of apertures in the refrigerant liquid tube above each row of condensing tubes for spraying refrigerant liquid upon the condensing tubes, means for admitting gas under pressure to the upper portion of the condensing chamber, and means for withdrawing liqueiied gas from the lower portionof the condensing chamber.

9. Apparatus for liqeufying gas including a reenforced steel casing having a copper lining, a copper shell spaced Within said casing and sealed to the upper and lower ends thereof forming a condensing chamber for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure between the shell and casing, a refrigerant liquid tube centrally located within the shell and forming a refrigerant chamber between said tube and shell, a plurality of spaced rows of radially disposed tubes surrounding the refrigerant tube and having open outer ends extending through the shell into the condensing chamber, there being a row of apertures in the refrigerant liquid tube above each row of condensing tubes for spraying refrigerant liquid upon the condensing tubes, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to said refrigerant liquid tube, and means for withdrawing vaporized refrigerant from the upper portion of the refrigerant chamber.

10. Apparatus for liquefying gas including a reenforced steel casing having a copper lining, a copper shell spaced within said casing and sealed to the upper and lower ends thereof forming a condensing chamber for receiving and maintaining gas under pressure between the shell and caslng, a refrigerant liquid tube centrally located within the shell and forming a refrigerant chamber between said tube and shell, a plurality of spaced rows of radially disposed tubes surrounding the refrigerant tube and having open outer ends extending through the shell into the condensing chamber, there being a row of apertures in the refrigerant liquid tube above each row of condensing tubes for spraying refrigerant liquid upon the condensing tubes, means for admitting gas under pressure to the upper portion of the condensing chamber, .means for withdrawing liquefied gas from the portion of the condensing chamber, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to said refrigerant liquid tube, and means for per portion of the refrigerant chamber.

JOHN C. SWAN.

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